MacKenzie said it would take more than $3 million to redevelop the property.

But with the building’s owner in bankruptcy, and the bank refusing to take control, the town is now looking to tear it all down.

A street full of shops in front and a railway behind complicates the demolition plan. One local company estimates the cost of demolition at around $1.1 million — a huge bill for a town of fewer than 10,000 people.

"I'd rather see this into our water system, our sewer system, our streets paving, our sidewalks," said MacKenzie.

With bits of the building falling on the sidewalk below, leaving it empty is not an option.

"Concrete and bricks falling from the building, broken glass, and we're very concerned about having an unoccupied building in our downtown," said MacKenzie.

"I think it's really sad," said Cindy Hemphill, who runs the White Lotus store across the street. "It's an old building, it's a historical building, it's very very sad that it has to come down."

Hemphill hopes the ruckus across the street won't interfere with her business.

"I'm assuming they'll have times where the road will be closed, and that's usually the hardest for us because a lot of people don't want to walk the few extra steps," she said.

If the demolition plan goes ahead, the Maritime Building won't make its 100th birthday. Instead, it will be torn down by Christmas.